BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has elected to issue voluntary payments to athletes who were adversely affected by doping offenses at B.A.A. events.
“While the multi-step process to reclaim and redistribute prize money has been complex and time consuming for all involved, we have worked – and continue to work—diligently towards a resolution that supports clean athletes while still holding all athletes accountable,” said Jack Fleming, President and CEO of the B.A.A. “Athletes will receive the prize money they rightfully earned at our races with these payments.”
The B.A.A. is identifying and contacting athletes whose results were re-ranked due to a disqualification within prize money placings since 1986, when prize money was first offered.
The B.A.A. is working to ensure voluntary payments are received by impacted athletes. For any athlete whose finishing place among the prize money positions was adversely affected by the ultimate disqualification of another athlete, the B.A.A. will issue a voluntary payment for the difference the athlete did not receive due to re-ranked results.
The B.A.A. continues to attempt to re-claim prize money that has been paid out in the past. The process of identifying all affected athletes has begun. Athletes can find additional information and apply for voluntary payments at baa.org/prize-money-voluntary-payments.
“We are supporting athletes who competed in our events, and who believed they would be rewarded for their top finishing place,” said Fleming. “We are doing what we can to ensure fair competition among athletes, and we will always seek to play host to the fairest of playing fields at all of our events.”
Payments will commence in January 2025. Any athlete who believes they were adversely affected and who has not been contacted by the B.A.A. by the end of 2024 are encouraged to contact the B.A.A. at voluntarypayments@baa.org.
Top finishers at all B.A.A. events are tested in accordance with the guidelines set forth by World Athletics, USA Track and Field, the World Anti-Doping Agency, the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and the Athletes Integrity Unit.
If an athlete has ever been sanctioned for anti-doping offenses (before, during, or after the re-ranking of B.A.A. event results) then they are not eligible to receive any voluntary payment. If an athlete who is provided with a voluntary payment is later disqualified, the B.A.A. will seek to recoup the payment.
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The 129th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 21, 2025. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.